As students start to think about heading back to school, The Show has been talking to the authors of books those students may be reading. It’s part of a series called Lit Squad and is focusing on how this genre can help teach kids about diversity.
Jamie Sumner taught high school English for more than a decade before starting to write books for middle grade readers — generally between 8 and 12 years old. The main character in her first book, “Roll with It,” has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. Her book “Tune it Out” features a character with a sensory processing disorder. Her newest book is called “The Summer of June” and takes on the issue of anxiety.
The Show spoke with Sumner and asked what about middle grade readers speaks to her.
More Lit Squad stories
-
President Donald Trump signed an executive order saying the country’s official policy is that there are two genders. It is into this environment that a new novel for young adults hits the shelves. -
A 13-year-old girl is preparing for her bat mitzvah, even though her family rarely goes to synagogue. At the same time, Zippy believes she’s a witch. That is the premise of the latest children’s novel from Laurel Snyder, called "The Witch of Woodland." -
Thousands of Japanese-Americans were held in internment camps in Arizona during World War II. MichiNishiura Weglyn was one of them — along with her family. Ken Mochizuki tells her story. -
Maria Ingrande Mora is a writer and content designer who lives in Florida. She talked about how she writes about something like anxiety — which some number of her readers likely also deal with — while keeping it authentic. -
The Show spoke with author Celia Pérez about her book "Tumble" and how the main character's story is someone many other children can relate to.
